Kilted Spills and Mishaps

[Eujeankilt]

When I read of Arlen's fall whilst kilted, I was home from work because I fell down some stairs at work and twisted my ankle. I went to Urgent Care today and found I have two little fractures on my heel bone. So I says to myself, we need a thread where the clumsy kilted can recount our tumbles and gaffes.

I was wearing my tan UK Mocker when I fell. Luckily, I fell head first and didn't expose myself the world (or answer the question). I rolled around on the floor saying bad words at the pain and lack of good fortune. A co-worker was right there and called for help and I got first aid within 10 minutes. Now I have to wear a walking brace until it heals (heels?) ( 4 to six weeks). If I were wearing p**ts, it would be much more difficult to dress, but being full time kilted - no problem!

So, anyone else who has taken a spill, tumble or other graceless accident while kilted?


Dale

[Yaish]

No falls or spills, my balance is pretty good. I do have countless little scars on my shins from wearing kilts while bushwhacking. You can only walk through so many yucca plants and dried creosote without getting scars.

I generally never notice though, I just happen to glance down later and see dried blood on my legs.

[James MacMillan]

Several years ago – about 20 – I was stationed in Okinawa, and one Saturday I decided to visit the Nakagusuku Castle ruins. I was kilted, as was my habit whenever I could get out of uniform. There are some long and sort of rough steps, some close to two stories tall. Most people touring the place don’t bother climbing to the top. But being a robust young Marine, in a country where the Marines had defeated the imperial might of the Japanese Army, I started climbing to the top. About 2/4 of the way up I took a tumble and fell all the way down to the bottom.

I was black and blue for days. Almost every part of my body had a scrape. But more important, I had a huge tear through about eight pleats in the back. A quick visit to sickbay got my cutts and bruises treated, but I was at a loss as to what to do with my kilt.

I should mention that my command of Japanese was pretty good then. The barracks had what we called Momasans, sweet little old ladies that we paid to do our laundry. I had befriended one, and had met her family, been to her house, and taken her and her family out to eat. I felt like she was a grandmother or aunt.

She took that kilt home with her and a week later brought it back to me. She had mended it by hand! Using very fine thread, of different colors, matching the sett, she had hand sewn it back together.

Picture in your mind sewing a piece of yarn back together so that the mend isn’t visible. She would not allow me to pay her! I had never seen, nor have I seen since any sewing that matched the care and delicate hand that that little Okinawan Lady displayed. I wish I still had that kilt to show off her handy work. But even the best, most expensive, kilts eventually wear out.

Yoshiko Mirutsu was, and I hope still is, the best seamstress I have ever seen!

[Riverkilt]

One time, at work...

I leaned back too far in my chair and went over backwards kilted. USA Kilt casual I think. The apron flew up, but I had on my tartan boxer shorts. The door to my office was open but by the time anyone came down the hall I'd managed to clamber out of the chair and right myself.

Ron

[MysticMead]

I recently took a small fall down the stairs... was on my way down to my office to start my day (I love working from home) when I messed a step... luckily, I have pretty good balance and was able to keep from rolling down them.. I just ended up sliding on my butt... It could have been much worse.. I was sore for a couple days and glad I didn't get a splinter.. I've been thinking of adding some non-skid strips to those stairs.. my wife also took a fall down them..she ended up with torn tendons...

[Kilted_John]

Tripped over the hose for the fuel nozzle at a Chevron station once. Landed on my hands and knees. Wrists hurt for a couple days, but the paint subsided. No damage to the knees luckily, even though the fall was on concrete. There probably is some surveillance camera video soemwheres that shows my incident, floating around the 'net, knowing my luck...

-J

[Arlen]

She took that kilt home with her and a week later brought it back to me. She had mended it by hand! Using very fine thread, of different colors, matching the sett, she had hand sewn it back together.

Picture in your mind sewing a piece of yarn back together so that the mend isn’t visible. She would not allow me to pay her! I had never seen, nor have I seen since any sewing that matched the care and delicate hand that that little Okinawan Lady displayed. I wish I still had that kilt to show off her handy work. But even the best, most expensive, kilts eventually wear out.

Yoshiko Mirutsu was, and I hope still is, the best seamstress I have ever seen!

This is a wonderful story.
Thank you for sharing it.

[Ozman1944]

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Gas Station heading for the Pre-pay booth. While rummaging in my sporran(!) for the cash - not looking where I was going, I tripped over something(?); With no time for reaction, fell flat on my face, full length on the pavement. Glasses went flying as did money (NOW the Sporran releases it!) Lighter etc. But my SWK edge stayed put! No 'southern exposure".
You know, it's really difficult to quickly spring upright from a totally full-length prone position with hands still gripping Sporran underneath you! Oddly enough, no one actually noticed, as mercifully the customers were all looking elsewhere fiddling with their various gas pumps.
SO, I just gathered myself up, strode up to the booth (he was on cell phone) pumped my gas and Celtically drove away none the worse for wear, not even a scratch or bruise..

[mbhandy]

Feb 06 I had gone to a customers house at the top of the Mtn. and they asked me to look at a vent out side the house. I was wearing a SWK standard because after their place I was headed for the Bar. Well I get out the ladder and walk out the side door of the house and find a 7 or 8 foot drift on the side of the house. I prop the ladder (Little Giant) against the side of the house and climb up to the vent, get it fixed to the side and start down the ladder and the snow bank gives way and I am now standing almost chest deep in the drift, Kilt up to my armpits and rather cold. I had to dig my way out of the drift and retreive my ladder that was stuck in the drift. I was wearing wool socks and Sorels under my kilt. Brushed off the snow and got my ladder back on the truck and went in to see my client. He was still chuckling and I sad what was so funny?
He had the security camera repeating my fall in to the snow and he said Now I know what is under the Kilt.
I was not to graceful getting out of the snow!
Sure glad he didn't have sound ******** just a few

No damage other than a few minutes of snow to the lower portons of the body

MrBill

[Yaish]

THAT is an experience I'm glad I heard about but never want to have to myself! LOL.